Overnight Energy & Environment: Keystone clears hurdle in Senate

KEYSTONE ON THE SENATE FLOOR: The Senate’s Keystone XL pipeline bill passed a key procedural hurdle Monday when senators voted 63-32 to formally start floor debate on the measure. The cloture vote starts the amendment process, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised would be completely open. That’s in contrast to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) who often blocked the amendment process when he was majority leader. Democrats are likely to bring up for votes amendments on climate change, clean energy jobs and keeping Keystone’s oil in the country, while Republicans will probably propose energy efficiency provisions. Read more on the cloture vote here. And come back to The Hill tomorrow for more on amendments to the Keystone bill. ON TAP I: The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold its organizational meeting for the current Congress Tuesday. The committee will formally set its rules, subcommittees and oversight plan. ON TAP II: LNG Allies, an ad hoc group lobbying for more liquefied natural gas exports, will host a seminar with Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio). Turner is planning to reintroduce legislation to make it easier to get approval to export LNG to countries within the World Trade Organization. Pipeline politics... The Senate will continue to debate its bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. AROUND THE WEB: Pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency has led to improvements in how West Virginia regulators review coal industry water pollution permits, the Charleston Daily Mail reports. Big businesses in southern California are getting millions of dollars to replace grass with more drought-friendly landscaping, angering homeowners who say they need that money more, the Los Angeles Times reports. General Motors Co. unveiled the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt concept car Monday, saying that it will get more than 200 miles on a single charge and cost around $30,000, the Detroit News reports. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Check out Monday's stories... - Senate advances Keystone bill - AAA: Gas below $2 per gallon in 18 states - Republican voters split on climate change opinions - Western lawmakers push for approval of Oregon gas export terminal - Former Rep. Lee Terry joins law firm - Supreme Court won't hear case on endangered California fish - Kerry: India is 'committed' to climate action - South Korea launches carbon cap-and-trade system